In preparation for our 2017 Alumnae Reunion Weekend and Lifetime Member Picnic (Sept 23 – 24), we’ve been taking a look at the histories and folklore that make our Girl Scout camps so special. At Camp Daisy Hindman we learned about a community that came together to support girls through volunteerism and philanthropy. At Camp Prairie Schooner, we learned how Girl Scout volunteers fought for the camp and proved to everyone that G.I.R.L.s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, Leaders)^TM can do anything. The story of the Oakledge Ish-ki-ti-ni showed us the power of the Girl Scout camping experience and the lasting legacy alumnae leave on camps.  Today, we’ll explore the third camp in our Council – Camp Tongawood – and how it is empowering the G.I.R.L.s of today through unparalleled leadership experiences during those awesome day camps.

Camp Tongawood is a special, outdoor sanctuary in Tonganoxie, KS where girls can zipline, fish and create memories that last a lifetime. In addition to awesome programming on site, Camp Tongawood serves as home to day camps throughout the summer. These camps offer incredible leadership experiences for teens. Most day camps allow teens to have innovative leadership experiences for their younger Girl Scout sisters and the creativity is always inspiring. For some teens, it’s the first time they are taking on a leadership role.

As a Day Camp Teen Leader, older Girl Scouts get to transition into a role of leadership and learn the basics of planning and running a large event. Considering some Day Camps have hundreds of attendees, these are impressive events that Girl Scout teens put on! With the support of their leaders, they plan events, coordinate volunteers and help run the operations. At Camp Tongawood, girls are able to offer fishing, STEM activities, crafts, fire camp bonding, ziplining and a wide variety of other opportunities.

What’s especially beautiful about Camp Tongawood is the wide variety of multifunction spaces (both inside and outside) that allow girls to come up with unique experiences in the outdoors. Have a space-themed Day Camp? Girl Scouts planned a slime STEM activity that helped younger Girl Scout learn about mixing ingredients to create something gooey! Ready to take a leap? Day Camps are able to offer ziplining that help build confidence for girls.

In a world where girls are getting less and less time outdoors, Day Camps often offer Girl Scouts a chance to just be girls in the outdoors. As Alumnae, Elizabeth Bourquin (aka “Weebles”) said, “I think it’s really important for girls, especially in society right now, to learn outdoor stuff because we are becoming an indoor society. Girls have to know they can do whatever they want – it’s not man’s world anymore, it’s a woman’s world.” Day Camps help girls push their limits in ways that being indoors just simply doesn’t allow.

Camp Tongawood has also been home to some really amazing STEM experiences. From stargazing to geocaching, girls have had the chance to explore this property using science. Where else are there outdoor places completely dedicated to empowering G.I.R.L.s except for Girl Scout camps? We can’t think of any!

Thank you to all the alumnae, volunteers, teens and staff that have made Camp Tongawood an extra special place for today’s girl. Your dedication to Girl Scout programming make Day Camp leadership experiences possible for teen girls. If you’ve had a Day Camp at Tongawood, we’d love to hear your camp experiences in the comments below! Share with us how this property inspired your own G.I.R.L.s (or your own experience).

Don’t forget to join us Sept 23 – 24 for our GSKSMO Alumnae Reunion Weekend and Lifetime Member Picnic! Registration is now closed, but contact VirginiaPennington@gsksmo.org to see if any spots are still available. Visit www.gsksmo.org/reunion for more information.

 

By now you’ve probably heard of the new Volunteer Toolkit – also known as the VTK! As back to troop season is here, we want to make sure you know about some of the awesome features of this new digital planning tool that will make your Girl Scout year a total success!

The Volunteer Toolkit is a new digital planning tool that gives volunteers resources and program content to get the year started—and keep it going smoothly! Fully customizable, the toolkit is digitally responsive so volunteers can plan and prepare practically anywhere (yes, from your mobile device too)!

Girls have more fun when they can shape their own experience, do hands-on activities, and work together as teams. With the new toolkit, girls and leaders can explore meeting topics and program activities together, and follow the fun as they plan their Girl Scout year!

Here are some highlights of the Volunteer Toolkit!

Year Plan Options – When you log in for the first time as a Daisy, Brownie or Junior troop leader, you will see year plan options for you and your troop that includes badges and journeys. They’re prepopulated in system and you can pick the one that your troop wants to do! But don’t feel like you’re confined to that year plan, they’re totally customizable and moveable. You can also mix different badges in with your Journey work, just click on the Year Plan Library tab.

 

Setting Troop Meeting Times & Locations – You can configure the date time and meeting locations for the year. You will also be able to see national holidays and schedule your meetings around those you choose. For meeting locations, each meeting can be customized, so if you’re participating in one of our Community Partner Programs, you can customize the address for that meeting.

 

Meeting Plan Overview – After you’ve selected your meetings from the Year Plan Library, you can click on Meeting Plan and see all the details for each meeting. Under the Planning Materials section are three resources for leading a successful meeting! The Meeting Overview is a high-level look at that meeting, the Activity Plan has the meeting activities planned out, including duration time for each activity. Lastly, the Material List is like your shopping list. It has all of the items you’ll need for the meeting that week.

 

Communicate with Caregivers – Through VTK, you can communicate and remind caregivers about upcoming Girl Scout meetings and activities! As girls register and join your troop, their contact information is saved in your My Troop tab. Then, each meeting you have the option to email out a reminder and information about that week’s meeting to all caregivers.

Resources Search Tab – The Resources Search tab lets you search for a robust search engine that lets you search for VTK content like meeting aids, meeting overviews and additional supporting materials and info you’ll need as a troop leader. You can add these materials to any meeting of your choice to supplement your planning for that meeting!

Have you been utilizing the VTK?! Let us know some of your favorite features in the comments below!

 

 

Summer is coming to a close and we are taking a look back at the histories and stories that make up the camping experience at GSKSMO to gear up for our 2017 alumnae reunion (Sept 23 – 24, 2017). Today, we’re looking at the early history and community support that brought Camp Daisy Hindman to life. As with Girl Scouting today, the story of Camp Daisy Hindman is truly one of community, girl support, female leadership and a dedication to empowering girls.

1925 – The Search Begins

Daisy Hindman is elected Girl Scout Commissioner of Topeka with her main focus on finding a camp property for area Girl Scouts. The Council trampled across a lot of land whenever they got a lead on a potential campsite until they found their future camp property.

 

1929 – Camp Comes to Life

20 acres for camp were leased to Girl Scouts by Mr. & Mrs. Floyd Ross. The couple lived across the road and provided support to the mission. When word got out that a Girl Scout camp was being built, the community came together to make it a reality. Cabins were sponsored by donors, tradesmen donated time and skills, local companies and clubs donated materials, all in an effort to build the best facilities for girls. Girl Scouts hosted a marionette show that raised $2,000 and sold cookies for four years fund construction. In 1929, the first year camp sessions were held, with the camp unfinished. In fact, some cabins were completed the night before girls arrived. At the time, the camp was known as “Dover Camp” or “Established Camp.”

FUN FACT: L.G. Ehols, a local carpenter whose wife was on the Council, organized local tradesmen & carpenters to donate time to the project as a community project. The Council members cooked meals for the workers so they could go straight from work on Friday to working on camp.

1930 – Camp Officially Opens

10 more acres were acquired and camp officially opened in 1930. At the time, it had four cabins, a partially constructed lodge, hospital, office, outdoor kitchen and shower house. The units original were named Juliette Low, Ipesi (now Sleepy Hollow), Trails End (original end of the property) and Peter Pan.

1934 – Camp Gets Its Name

When Daisy Hindman relinquished office (with the debt for camp paid off and camp being considered one of the excellent Girl Scout camps in the country), Mrs. J R Borrow took office. The Council voted unanimously to officially name the camp “Camp Daisy Hindman” in honor of the former Commissioner.

 

 1930 – 1948 – Camp Expands and The War

Between 1930 – 1943, an additional 70 acres of land were added, making it 100 acres total. Over the years campers got to experience an International Camp (1936), horses on property and scholarships for girls in need. The 114^th cavalry provided horses in 1938 and in 1940, horses from the Mott Riding Academy in Lawrence came to camp for the summer. During the war years of 1944 – 1948, no camp was held due to a gas shortage that made it too difficult to get girls to camp. In 1948, Girl Scouts sold over 20,000 boxes of cookies to make repairs to camp that allowed it to serve girls once again in 1949.

1949 to Today – Honoring Daisy Hindman and G.I.R.L.s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, Leaders)^TM

In the late 1950s, the song “Camp Daisy Hindman” was composed by Martha Adams, a camp director, and it is still in use today. In July 1962, the staff celebrated the 50^th birthday of Girl Scouting and Daisy Hindman returned to camp. The campers were honored by her presence and celebrated this leader who made their camp a reality.

FUN FACT: Donors Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Springer said of their gift: “Our contribution was wholly unsolicited, but we have to many starry eyed little cookie sellers in our neighborhood, it was a matter of enlarging our pantry or sending a contribution.”

 

 

Today, Camp Daisy Hindman is a home to more than 2,000 Girl Scouts each year for a variety of camping opportunities. Girls can experience archery, geocaching, canoeing, kayaking and summer camp, thanks to the tireless efforts of donors and alumnae who continue to support the camp. Camp Daisy Hindman continues to offer a place for  G.I.R.L.s to grow  thanks to the hard work of Daisy Hindman, the Council and the community that came together to build this camp.

Thank you to the leaders who made our camp properties a reality, the donors who continue to fund improvements, the alumnae who keep history alive and the G.I.R.L.s who give life to the campsite each year. Camp Daisy Hindman truly is a special place.

We hope you’ll join us for the 2017 alumnae reunion to share camp stories, celebrate our Lifetime members, participate in adventure programming and rededicate Neal Lodge and the Oakledge Ish-ki-ti-ni! Registration closes September 8, so register today at https://www.gsksmo.org/reunion!

Tomorrow, Monday, August 21^st, a rare event will occur where the moon will pass between the Earth and Sun, creating a solar eclipse! What’s even better? Our council, NE Kansas and NW Missouri, has a few places where we’re in the path of totality, so we get some of the best views in the country! We want to give Girl Scouts some fun to learn how the solar system works and use STEM skills to learn about a real time natural event.

Note of caution: Looking directly at the Sun, at any time, is extremely dangerous for your eyes and the effects aren’t immediate, they often take a few hours for you to realize there’s been damage. Here’s a great video to help you know what’s safe and what’s not. The safest way to view the eclipse would be on TV. If you are opting for an in-person viewing, make sure you have eclipse viewing glasses (here’s an approved list of vendors with safe glasses from the American Astronomical Society). Also, don’t wear glasses, and use unfiltered binoculars, because according to the AAS, without filters on the binoculars themselves, your glasses can melt since the rays are more concentrated. You can also read some great safety tips for viewing on NASA’s eclipse website.

…Now that we’re all safe, let’s look at some fun STEM activities to do during the eclipse mania!

1. What is a solar eclipse? Learning ahead of the eclipse

Take this opportunity to help Girl Scouts learn about the solar system and what exactly a solar eclipse is! We found some great, short videos for Girl Scouts to check out to learn about this eclipse and why it’s so special:

• Diagram/Basic Understanding: NASA video – “Visualizing the 2017 Eclipse” (length – 1:19)
• Importance of this Eclipse: Vox video – “Why a Total Solar Eclipse is Such a Big Deal” (length – 5:23)
• Perception of Eclipses Through History: Time – “Solar Eclipses Throughout History: Warning Sign to Many Ancient Cultures” (length – 3:17)

2. Decorate your solar glasses

Many glasses already have some solar decoration on them, but Girl Scouts can be very creative! If your Girl Scouts have glasses, they can decorate them after the eclipse with what they saw! It’s a great way to keep a memory of the event.

NASA glasses decoration gallery and hashtag

3. Make a Pin-Hole Camera

Can’t find solar eclipse glasses? Make your own pin hole camera in just a few minutes that will keep your eyes safe during the viewing. It’s a great activity for Girl Scouts who like hands-on activities.

How to Make a Pin Hole Camera

Bill Nye & the National Park Service Video on Creating a Pin Hole Camera

4. Visit St. Joseph, MO!

Visit Girl Scout sisters (or if you live in St. Joe, invite Girl Scout sisters from other cities) to come view the eclipse! Since St. Joseph, MO is in the path of totality, it’s one of the few places in the world you can get the best view of the eclipse.

Information on the Eclipse in St. Joseph, MO

5. Solar Eclipse Paper Plate Activity (for Daisy & Brownie Girl Scouts)

Let younger Girl Scouts decorate their own solar eclipse. This activity will help girls understand how the moon is blocking the light of the sun in a fun art project!

Total Eclipse Paper Plates

6. Become a Junior Ranger Eclipse Explorer!

Bill Nye’s Planetary Society and the National Park Service have teamed up to create some great resources for kids all about the solar eclipse! You can either call a national park if you have one nearby to see if they have any booklets, or print your own book! It’s packed with activities and information! There’s also a 4 part video series featuring Bill Nye about the event.

Junior Ranger Eclipse Explore Book & Videos

These are just a few suggestions on ways to learn about STEM and get excited about the Great American Solar Eclipse! What did your troop do to celebrate? Post photos and comments below!

New twists on a classic. We’re sharing 5 exciting recipes with a new ingredient or two that really spice up the traditional s’more recipe. While the core ingredients of graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate remain the same, we wanted to give you some ways to make this traditional treat.

…and speaking of a twist on an original…we have an exciting announcement! The delicious S’more Girl Scout cookie is OFFICIALLY RETURNING FOR 2018!! That’s right! You’ll be able to enjoy this popular new cookie all over again during the 2018 Cookie Season!

 

Grilled S’more Banana Packets

Who’s made bananas with chocolate over a campfire while camping with Girl Scouts? Well, you’ll love this one then! Just take a banana, slice down the middle, fill with marshmallows and chocolate, wrap in foil and after 10 minutes in the fire, you’ve got a great dessert. Once it’s cooled enough, unwrap the foil, top with graham crackers and enjoy. Full recipe here!

Image and recipe from Neighborfoodblog.com

S’more Hot Chocolate

In the winter, sometimes you just want something warm in a mug. Make up your favorite hot chocolate then top with a layer of toasted marshmallows (they have some tips for how to do this), drizzle chocolate and graham crackers on the top. Yum.

Image and recipe from Delish.com

 

 

“The Elvis S’more”

Put on your blue suede shoes and try out this salty and sweet combination! The addition of bananas, Reese’s peanut butter cups and bacon makes this sound like a treat that’ll make you dance the night away.

Image and recipe from TheKitchn.com

 

Mason Jar S’more Cakes

Need something you can distribute easily but packs a punch? Check out these delicious S’more Cakes served in a mason jar. A graham cracker crust layered with chocolate cake and marshmallow topping – WOW! It’s a perfect nod to summer and the toasted marshmallows on top have that ooey-gooeyness of camp. We suggest putting a piece of chocolate as a garnish on the top.

Image and recipe from HowSweetEats.com

 

S’more Cheesecake

Slice and servable option for s’mores! With a graham cracker crust, chocolate and topped with marshmallows, the addition of cheesecake is simply brilliant. Make ahead for your next event!

Image and recipe from Delish.com

 

BONUS RECIPES

For Girl Scouts and families with dietary restrictions, we have some cool twists for you too! While many of the treats above can be made with substitutions (like specialty graham crackers, etc), we wanted to highlight a few options that offer more flexibility.

Gluten-Free S’mores Krispie Treats

Substitute gluten-free rice krispies for the tradition graham cracker and whip up some s’mores krispie treats! You can find the full recipe here.

Image and recipe from DishingDelish.com

Gluten-Free S’more Parfaits

A make-ahead dessert that’s gluten-free?! Yes! Check out this parfait that’s even better when prepared a day ahead. The recipe includes everything you’ll need, including a recipe to make a gluten-free cookie (or use your favorite type).

Image and recipe from GlutenFreeOnAShoeString.com

How creative can you get, Girl Scouts? Let us know what s’mores concoctions you’ve created by commenting below! We’d love to hear what you’ve made and if you’ve tried any of these recipes. Don’t forget, you can also get to thinking about all the great ways to use the S’more Girl Scout cookie – returning for the 2018 Cookie Program!

How is your back to school list coming? Have you been to back to school night yet? Purchased new school supplies and clothes? What about register for the new Girl Scout year?

Well what are you waiting for?! There are big things in store for all of our G.I.R.L.s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, Leaders)™ this new membership year!

1. Volunteer Toolkit
   Save time and energy this year using our brand new Volunteer Toolkit! The Volunteer Toolkit helps parents and volunteers easily plan meetings and activities; keep track of important information; and, ultimately, make it easier to support amazing experiences for girls!

   In the toolkit, most programming for girls in grades K–5 is auto populated so troop leaders can view activity plans and necessary materials, customize meetings, and track troop finances all in one place. Plus, the instructions included throughout make subjects that might otherwise intimidate some volunteers! The best part? It’s accessible on mobile devices!

2. New Badges
   Did you hear that Girl Scouts of the USA has released the largest badge update in over a decade?! Girl Scouts of all levels can now earn a variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) badges to proudly display on the front of their vest/sash!

   See what local Girl Scouts have to say about them on KSHB 41 and in the Kansas City Star!

   
   

3. Fall Outdoor Experience Programs
   When you register for the new Girl Scout year, you are also able to register for Fall Outdoor Experience Programs! Get your first choice of Low Ropes sessions, register for one of our new Excursions or reserve space at one of our properties, just to name a few things! See all the new programming at GSKSMO.org/outdoors!
   
   
4. On-time Tee
   Girl Scouts (adults and girls!) who register by Sept. 28 are eligible to purchase this super soft tee. This is THE GSKSMO shirt of the year and you don’t want to miss out on your chance to get it!

   

So what are you waiting for?! There is a year full of go-getting, innovating, risk-taking and leading when you register for the new Girl Scout year as a G.I.R.L.!

G.I.R.L.s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, Leaders)^TM are changing the world every day and our incredible volunteers are leading them to those successes. From community partner events to Gold Award projects and community service, Girl Scouts are having the time of their lives and learning life skills from their leaders and volunteers. On Sunday, June 4, we were able to honor and thank the inspiring volunteers from across our West Region.

The West Region event was held in Topeka, KS and welcomed families and Girl Scouts from the region. Girl Scouts and volunteers alike enjoyed our G.I.R.L photo booth, learned about region successes, chatted with friends and saw the awesome things Girl Scouts are accomplishing. Our West Region volunteers rock!

At the awards ceremony, we honored 5 outstanding individuals with the Appreciation Pin, an award that recognizes outstanding service given to at least one service unit. These are the stand-out volunteers that make a real impact on the lives of girls.  We also honored Service Unit 715’s Recruitment Team with the Recruitment Award and the “Be More, Do More” Training Team from Service Unit 701 with the Innovator award! Thank you, volunteer teams! Many more awards were presented and you can see a full list at the link below.

Philanthropy is vital to the success of Girl Scouts, so we wanted to recognize three awesome philanthropists from the West. Rosalyn Carr was honored as the Daisy’s Circle Philanthropist, Barby Craft was honored with the Philanthropist Award and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation received the Corporate Philanthropist Award. Thank you for investing in girls!

It was an awesome event in the West and we thank everyone that was able to join us! Because of your hard work, dedication, and recognition of the power of G.I.R.L.s, you are making the world a better place by inspiring young women. Thank you to all the volunteers who make our council amazing.

To see a full list of awardees and photos from the event, view our program and gallery.

Summer is here and it came FAST! We rounded up some ideas for ways for Girl Scouts, their friends and family to enjoy the outdoors this summer! Whether you harvest your own food, go back in time, learn a new water skill or something else equally as awesome, we hope you enjoy your time outside with others this summer!

 

Pick Your Own Fruit & Berries

There are many places around our area that are You-Pick-Its! If you’re looking for fresh blueberries, The Berry Patch in Cleveland, MO is the place for you! Stock up on that summer fruit and freeze anything you won’t eat right away! If variety is what you’re looking for than head out to Bates City, MO to John & Linda’s U-Pick Berry Farm and get your hands on a wide variety of fruits and vegetables all summer long!

 

Outdoor Water Skills

Canoe, kayak, paddle board or just learn a new outdoor water skill this summer! Use the Missouri State Parks and Kansas State Parks websites to find a body of water close to you with equipment rental! Just remember to follow all safety rules and regulations!

 

Country Cabin Village

Take part in the famous Saturday night Chuck Wagon Dinner at the Country Cabin Village in Kidder, MO on June 17! This will be the last dinner until fall, but Country Cabin Village is open year-round and you can shop any of their seven shops that include a made-from-scratch Bake Shop, Fashion Boutique, Primitive Shop and more!

 

Shoal Creek Living History Museum

Step back in time and go on a self-guided tour of the Shoal Creek Living History museum located in Hodge Park just outside of Liberty, MO! If you want to make the most of your visit, plan to visit on the first Saturday of the month with the village will be alive with reenactors like Gunfighters, Outlaws, Civil War Soldiers, and Mountain Men!

 

Combat Air Museum

Located in Topeka, KS, the Combat Air Museum has 36 aircrafts in their collection at the Topeka Regional Airport/Forbes Field! Some aircrafts date back to World War I and World War II. Tour many aircrafts outside then continue your visit inside and learn more about the history of aviation!

We want to know how you’re getting outdoors this summer so drop us a note in the comments below or share on social media using #gsoutdoors!

Girl Scouts is no stranger to change. With the ever-changing state of girls, we have to adapt constantly to make sure we’re keeping up with our amazing G.I.R.L.s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, Leaders)^TM! Today, we’re launching an awesome council upgrade that will make the digital Girl Scouting experience better for everyone.

Introducing the brand new www.GSKSMO.org! This new website is streamlined to be more efficient, adaptive and help YOU connect with the opportunities that Girl Scouts offers. Here are some of the best things about the new website. For a full tour, check out our site tour video here: https://youtu.be/hVaCN5kIing

1. Searchability

Finding things on gsksmo.org just got a whole lot easier. With an improved search function site wide, you’ll be able to locate what you’re looking for even faster than before. This search feature is especially amped up for our activities calendar, helping you find events you’d like to attend.

2. Adaptable

Our new website adapts to your screen! Whether you’re on a laptop, mobile device or PC, the website works around you, making it easier to navigate on the go.

3. News

Get your Girl Scout news here! You’ll now be able to stay up-to-date on news even easier with a news section right on the main page. It even integrates with the blog, so you won’t miss a story. Upcoming events are also featured on the front page so you can see some top activities coming up at GSKSMO.

4. Consolidated Pages

The GSKSMO team worked hard to make sure your web navigation experience is the best it’s ever been. Over the spring, the staff took a hard look at every page on our website to make sure everything is up-to-date, consolidated, and easy to use. Taking years of feedback from Girl Scout families about the website, we have created a streamlined experience that puts the information you need just a few clicks away.

 

5. GSUSA Link

Our website now directly links with GSUSA, making sure information is updated nationwide as needed. This means we’re better aligned as a global movement and unified in our messaging and dedication to the world’s best untapped resource – girls!

Now that you’ve seen some of the top 5 features, check out our website for yourself! Visit www.gsksmo.org to experience our new web platform and find even more opportunities to watch your Girl Scout shine!  Comment below with your favorite thing about the new website!